ROSH Gastrointestinal Practice Exam

Which of the following is a common symptom of acute diverticulitis?

1. Weight loss

2. Bloody stools

3. Severe constipation

4. Crampy abdominal pain

The correct answer is: Bloody stools

Acute diverticulitis commonly presents with crampy abdominal pain. Patients typically experience this pain in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen, which could be accompanied by tenderness upon palpation. Crampy abdominal pain is a characteristic symptom that indicates irritation or inflammation of the diverticula in the digestive tract. Weight loss may occur, but it is usually not an immediate symptom of acute diverticulitis; instead, it can develop over time due to dietary changes or prolonged illness. Bloody stools are more suggestive of diverticular bleeding rather than diverticulitis itself, as the inflammation does not typically cause bleeding. Severe constipation can sometimes be associated with diverticular disease in general, but during an acute diverticulitis episode, patients might experience altered bowel habits rather than severe constipation alone. Therefore, crampy abdominal pain is the symptom most consistently linked with acute diverticulitis.